Astana – The Republic of Kazakhstan will host the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in the capital, Astana, Tomorrow 22 until to 24 April 2026, bringing together a wide range of more than 1500 leaders, experts, and representatives of international organizations to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing the environmental and climate challenges facing Central Asia.
The United Arab Emirates is participating comes within the framework of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the areas of sustainable development, infrastructure, and the environment, while simultaneously enhancing UAE-Kazakhstan relations. The UAE is one of Kazakhstan’s most important economic partners, with this partnership encompassing the energy and environment sectors.
The summit culminates a two-year preparatory process aimed at addressing regional environmental challenges. As an active partner, the UAE is sharing its expertise in green building standards and climate neutrality at such international forums. The UAE delegation is present at the summit in response to the invitation received by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Head of the International Relations Office at the UAE Presidential Court and former Minister of Climate Change and Environment, following her recent meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE, His Excellency Ravan Jumabek, and her receipt of the official invitation from the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nissanbayev.
The Summit, organized by the Government of Kazakhstan in cooperation with regional and international partners, will be held under the theme: “A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future.” It aims to establish Astana as a permanent platform for strategic dialogue on climate, environment, and sustainable development.
The Summit agenda is structured around eight key thematic pillars, including the green transition, strengthening climate resilience, water, food, and soil security, sustainable management of natural resources, financial mechanisms for environmental policies, a just and inclusive transition, and the role of technology, education, and digital solutions in advancing sustainable development.
Important Opportunity
The event also represents an important opportunity to promote investment in renewable energy, create green jobs, and advance equality and inclusion, reflecting a comprehensive vision that balances environmental ambition with economic development.
The Summit seeks to serve as a catalyst for long-term regional cooperation by enhancing policy integration, scientific research, financing mechanisms, and technological innovation to address shared climate challenges across Central Asia.
The main program will be inaugurated with a plenary session chaired by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with the participation of several heads of state and government, including President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh.
This initiative is jointly organized by Kazakhstan and United Nations agencies, with the aim of uniting Central Asian countries in responding to accelerating climate challenges through advancing the low-carbon transition, strengthening adaptation strategies, supporting food and water security, and building a fair and inclusive green economy.
The Summit is expected to gather around 1,500 participants, including heads of state and government, representatives of international organizations, the private sector, and civil society, to develop joint solutions to environmental and climate challenges in the region.
The initiative was officially endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 78/147 in December 2023, and further strengthened during its 80th session in 2025, reflecting growing international support.
Over three days, the Summit will feature high-level plenary sessions and more than 20 thematic and sectoral meetings, bringing together policymakers, technical experts, financial institutions, and development partners. The aim is to promote coordinated policies, targeted investments, and cross-border projects addressing key environmental risks affecting economic stability and human security in the region.
A Milestone for Central Asia
The Summit represents a major milestone in enhancing Central Asia’s resilience, deepening regional integration, and contributing to global climate solutions. Through this event, Astana seeks to reinforce its position as a regional hub for climate leadership, sustainable development, and long-term cooperation.
The importance of the Summit is underscored by the accelerating impacts of climate change in Central Asia, where temperatures are rising at nearly twice the global average. The region is also experiencing worsening desertification, accelerated glacier melt, and more frequent extreme weather events, all of which threaten water resources, agriculture, public health, and economic stability.
Key environmental challenges include the Aral Sea crisis, declining levels of the Caspian Sea, increasing water scarcity, and rising temperatures.
The Summit also aims to establish an institutional platform for continuous dialogue on climate and sustainability, link regional and global agendas, define Central Asia’s environmental priorities within broader international frameworks, and strengthen the region’s role in global environmental governance.
It further seeks to enhance practical regional cooperation, engage multiple stakeholders, and support the region’s emergence as an active actor capable of addressing transboundary environmental challenges.
International Organizations & UN
Participants will include representatives of international organizations and UN agencies, among them Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Frits Feenstra (OSCE Secretary General); Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization; and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.
The agenda will address a set of interconnected environmental challenges facing Central Asia, including water scarcity, glacier retreat, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure on natural resources.
During a press briefing on 31 March, Deputy Minister of Environment Mansur Ushurbayev stated that the Summit is designed to translate dialogue into tangible results, with the participation of 17 United Nations agencies and more than 2,800 registered participants, including over 1,000 international delegates.
President Tokayev has emphasized that climate risks do not recognize national borders and require a unified regional strategy supported by strong international partnerships and the United Nations. The Summit is expected to become a key platform for shaping the region’s long-term climate trajectory.
The initiative has been preceded by a series of regional consultations led by the Central Asia Climate Fund project office, with initial sessions held in Almaty and Samarkand, followed by specialized discussions during the Climate Change Conference in Turkmenistan.
Scientific studies indicate that the flow of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers could decline by up to 15% by 2050, while ongoing glacier retreat in the Tien Shan mountains continues to place increasing pressure on freshwater resources in the region.
Results Expectations
The Summit is expected to deliver tangible outcomes, including:
- Joint political declarations,
- The establishment of a new regional climate finance mechanism,
- Cross-border projects in water management, renewable energy, and climate adaptation,
- The development of early warning systems, enhanced knowledge exchange, and strengthened partnerships to ensure a fair and sustainable transition toward a green economy.
